need title insurance if house has had a warranty deed?

need title insurance if house has had a warranty deed?

Real Estate Agent · Little Rock, AR · Member since 2018 · 38 posts · 6 votes

Newbie here. I'm looking at a bank-owned house for auction on auction.com. I can see in county records that the last owner got a warranty deed in March of 2017, and then it went back to US Bank with a mortgagee's deed in November 2018. Here are my questions--doesn't the fact that he could get a warranty deed mean the title was clear up until then? Since it just went back to the bank after him, is it not still clear and therefore no need for me to purchase title insurance?

Thank you for any help!

Jill

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Real Estate Professional · West Palm Beach, FL · Member since 2012 · 23k+ posts · 13k+ votes
7y

Absolutely not.....a “Warranty” deed just means the seller in the transaction will supposedly cure any problems found later...that doesn’t help you.  You absolutely want title insurance and you want to use Your title co to issue it, not the selling lender’s.

A number of things can pop up....some heir from the past had their signature forged, the foreclosing bank missed something in their foreclosure, some legal description error occurred somewhere, etc.

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  • Real Estate Professional · West Palm Beach, FL · Member since 2012 · 23k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    7y

    Absolutely not.....a “Warranty” deed just means the seller in the transaction will supposedly cure any problems found later...that doesn’t help you.  You absolutely want title insurance and you want to use Your title co to issue it, not the selling lender’s.

    A number of things can pop up....some heir from the past had their signature forged, the foreclosing bank missed something in their foreclosure, some legal description error occurred somewhere, etc.

  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    7y

    Ive got a title problem right now on a property we have under contract.  Previous transfer of the property has the grantor and grantee backwards, and we cant locate the previous owner to have them sign a corrected deed.  

  • Tom GimerBusiness Member
    DMV · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7y

    @Russell Brazil Did the seller sign the deed with the grantor/grantee error? You may get by with a re-recording rather than corrective.

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  • Real Estate Agent · Cupertino, CA · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    Study your prelim title. Talk with title company.

  • Real Estate Agent · Little Rock, AR · Member since 2018 · 38 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    Will do. Thank you all!

  • Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    Good question.

    1.  Once the property is foreclosed on, the title gets wiped clean.  Usually.

    2.  If you are buying this on auction.com, the transaction will usually includes title insurance.  A title company does more than just provide title insurance, but they facilitate the transaction.  

    Get used to buying properties with title insurance, even when you think you don't need it.

    Here's an example of what can go wrong with your property:  The bank didn't pay a vendor and the vendor files a lien on the property after you bought it.  The bank did not pay a broker properly and you get a lien. The city had some unpaid vendor bills when the property was abandoned and you get a lien.  Mistakes were made with the foreclosure case or the deed transfer.  You're covered with title insurance.

  • Real Estate Agent · Little Rock, AR · Member since 2018 · 38 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    Hence the term "insurance." I'm convinced. Thank you!

  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Tom Gimer:

    @Russell Brazil Did the seller sign the deed with the grantor/grantee error? You may get by with a re-recording rather than corrective.

    Good question, and Im not sure as to a lot of the specifics. My eyes always gloss over when you attorney start telling me about the title problems. I know a seperation agreement was recorded with the deed showing what was the correct way it should have been filed. Im sure title will fix it one way or another. Or maybe close w exception to this error and I can force a reduction in price over the issue.

  • Attorney, CPA, Broker & Author · Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2018 · 532 posts · 488 votes
    7y

    @Jill Curran  I highly recommend you get the title insurance. The fact there was a warranty deed in the previous chain of title doesn't necessarily mean a thing.

  • Ned CareyPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    7y

    @Jill Curran  no one will finance the property without title insurance.

  • Johnson City, TN · Member since 2017 · 209 posts · 367 votes
    7y
    Title insurance is too cheap to even consider going without it.
  • Real Estate Agent · Little Rock, AR · Member since 2018 · 38 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    All good info. Thank you!

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